TW202415422A - Portable central plantar muscles training device - Google Patents

Abstract

A portable plantar core muscle group trainer is used with a human foot. The transverse direction of the foot is defined as an X direction, the longitudinal direction of the foot is defined as a Y direction, and a Z direction is perpendicular to the X direction and the Y direction. The foot includes a first toe metatarsophalangeal joint, a fifth toe metatarsophalangeal joint and a heel. A transverse arch is formed between the first toe metatarsophalangeal joint and the fifth toe metatarsophalangeal joint, and a foot arch is formed between the first toe metatarsophalangeal joint and the heel. The portable plantar core muscle group trainer includes: a support portion, which is configured correspondingly at the transverse arch position, the support portion has a support portion thickness in the Z direction, and the support portion has a deformation amount on the Z axis; a medial cushion portion connected to the support portion, the medial cushion portion being arranged at the first toe metatarsophalangeal joint, and having a medial cushion portion thickness in the Z direction; and a lateral cushion portion connected to the support portion, the lateral cushion portion being arranged at the fifth toe metatarsophalangeal joint, and having a medial cushion portion thickness in the Z direction. The thickness of the supporting part is greater than that of the medial and lateral cushioning parts. When the sole of the foot steps on the portable plantar core muscle group trainer, the supporting part supports the transverse arch to assist in training the natural arching of the arch, thereby guiding the plantar core muscle group to contract and strengthen the plantar core muscle group.

Description

Lightweight core muscle trainer

The present invention relates to a portable plantar core muscle group trainer, in particular to a trainer that applies force downward through the metatarsophalangeal joint of the foot and simultaneously makes the transverse arch press against a supporting part, so that the arch of the foot naturally arches, thereby inducing the plantar core muscle group in the sole of the foot to contract, so as to train the plantar core muscle group muscle strength.

In the article “The foot core system: A new paradigm for understanding intrinsic foot muscle function” written by Patrick O’Mckeon et al. in the British Journal of Sports Medicine in 2015, it was proposed that the sole of the foot has a concept similar to the core muscles of the trunk. When the curvature and control of the foot are abnormal, the movement of the lower limbs will produce an incorrect compensation mode, which will in turn cause pain or injury to other joints and parts.

The foot muscles include the intrinsic core muscles (responsible for stability, providing perception, internal movements) and the extrinsic muscles (responsible for large movements). The core muscles include (1) abductor hallucis; (2) flexor digitorum brevis; (3) abductor digitiminimi; (4) quadratus plantae; (5) lumbricals; (6) flexor digitiminimi; (7) adductor hallucis oblique; (8) flexor hallucis brevis; (9) plantar interossei; (10) dorsal interossei; and (11) extensor digitorum brevis.

Traditionally, when performing foot training, the exercise of grabbing a towel with the toes is often used as the basis of the training. However, when users bend their toes, they can only exercise the external muscles of the soles of the feet, and it is difficult to train the deeper core muscles of the soles of the feet. To train the core muscles of the soles of the feet, you should avoid bending your toes and naturally arch your arches. The arch of the foot should not be supported by external objects, so that the strength of the core muscles of the soles of the feet can be trained.

In order to strengthen the core muscles of the plantar, the training concept of short foot movement is used clinically. By not applying force with the toes, the soles and heels are relatively retracted to raise the arch of the foot, guide the core muscles of the plantar to contract, and thus strengthen the core muscles of the plantar. However, this type of training method is more difficult. It is not easy for beginners to make the correct force application method. They often only use the toes to apply force and bend the toes, but the arch of the foot is not raised, resulting in poor training results.

The Republic of China patent publication number TW200611682A "Arch Trigger" is a device that has irregularly shaped and unevenly undulating three-dimensional columns arranged on a central convex base plate, so that a plurality of base plates are laid on the floor or ground to form an undulating ground surface to stimulate the sole muscles of the human body and strengthen muscle training. However, this type of training only involves leaning the foot against the undulating ground surface to make the arch of the foot arch, and does not guide the active force of the core muscles of the foot during training, so the training effect is insufficient.

Patent Publication No. I693952 of the Republic of China, "Trainer for Core Muscles of the Plantars and Training Method", is to set a strap and a resistance bar on the base plate, the resistance bar is set in front of the base plate, and the strap is set in the middle of the base plate. When in use, the resistance bar corresponds to the position of the metatarsal bones of the foot, and the strap is tied to the instep. When the foot steps on the resistance bar, the heel hits the base plate, and the instep is tied by the strap to limit the position, so that the arch of the foot can naturally arch, and induce the core muscles of the plantars supporting the arch to contract, thereby training the core muscles of the plantars. However, when performing training, the training must be performed at a fixed point, and the training cannot be performed in a wearable manner. In addition, the trainer is large in size and not easy to carry with you.

Therefore, the inventor proposes a portable plantar core muscle group training device to enable the core muscle group training to be performed at any location or at any time, and to support the transverse arch during training, thereby guiding the arch of the foot to naturally arch. The device is used in conjunction with a human foot. The transverse direction of the sole is defined as an X direction, the longitudinal direction of the sole is defined as a Y direction, and a Z direction is perpendicular to the X direction. In the Y direction, the sole of the foot includes a first toe metatarsophalangeal joint, a fifth toe metatarsophalangeal joint and a heel, a transverse arch is between the first toe metatarsophalangeal joint and the fifth toe metatarsophalangeal joint, and a foot arch is between the first toe metatarsophalangeal joint and the heel. The portable plantar core muscle group trainer includes: a support portion, which is configured correspondingly at the transverse arch position, and the support portion is in the Z direction. The support portion has a thickness upward, and the support portion has a deformation amount on the Z axis; an inner cushion portion connected to the support portion, the inner cushion portion is configured correspondingly at the first toe metatarsophalangeal joint position, and the inner cushion portion has an inner cushion portion thickness in the Z direction; an outer cushion portion connected to the support portion, the outer cushion portion is configured correspondingly at the fifth toe metatarsophalangeal joint The lateral cushioning portion is located at a position of the joint, and has a lateral cushioning portion thickness in the Z direction; the thickness of the supporting portion is greater than the thickness of the medial cushioning portion and the thickness of the lateral cushioning portion; when the sole of the foot steps on the portable plantar core muscle group trainer, the supporting portion supports the transverse arch to assist in training the natural arching of the arch, thereby guiding the plantar core muscle group to contract and strengthen the plantar core muscle group.

Furthermore, the deformation amount is one third to one half of the thickness of the supporting portion.

Furthermore, the supporting portion includes an upper surface of the supporting portion, the upper surface of the supporting portion is for contacting the transverse arch, and the upper surface of the supporting portion is a curved surface corresponding to the transverse arch.

Furthermore, the maximum distance of the supporting portion along the Y direction is defined as a long axis, and the maximum distance along the X direction is defined as a short axis, and the length of the long axis is greater than the length of the short axis.

Furthermore, the long axis is at a first angle with the Y direction, and the first angle is between negative fifteen degrees and positive fifteen degrees; the inner buffer portion has an inner buffer portion geometric center, the outer buffer portion has an outer buffer portion geometric center, the outer buffer portion geometric center is connected to the inner buffer portion geometric center to form a geometric center line, and the geometric center line is at a second angle with the X direction, and the second angle is between fifteen degrees and thirty-five degrees.

Furthermore, the inner buffer portion has an inner buffer portion upper surface, and the inner buffer portion upper surface is concave.

Furthermore, the inner buffer portion is circular and has a plurality of rings with different diameters, and the plurality of rings are arranged at intervals along a radial direction.

Furthermore, the outer buffer portion has an outer buffer portion upper surface, and the outer buffer portion upper surface is concave.

Furthermore, the outer buffer portion is circular and has a plurality of rings with different diameters, and the plurality of rings are arranged at intervals along a radial direction.

Furthermore, the length of the major axis is between 25 mm and 60 mm, the length of the minor axis is between 15 mm and 40 mm, the thickness of the inner buffer portion is between 5 mm and 10 mm, the thickness of the outer buffer portion is between 5 mm and 10 mm, the thickness of the support portion is between 12 mm and 20 mm, the width of the inner buffer portion and the outer buffer portion along the X direction is between 40 mm and 120 mm; the length of the inner buffer portion and the outer buffer portion along the Y direction is between 30 mm and 80 mm.

Furthermore, it includes an elastic sheet, the elastic sheet has an elastic sheet body, the support portion covers the elastic sheet body, the elastic sheet has elasticity in the Z direction, and the support portion generates the deformation due to the elasticity.

Furthermore, an inner wing and an outer wing are respectively extended from two sides of the elastic sheet body, the inner buffer portion covers the inner wing, and the outer buffer portion covers the outer wing.

According to the above technical features, the following effects can be achieved:

1. By stepping on the portable plantar core muscle group trainer, the first toe metatarsophalangeal joint, the fifth toe metatarsophalangeal joint and the transverse arch of the sole of the foot can be supported on the portable plantar core muscle group trainer for comfortable support. The sole of the foot can be supported by the arc surface of the support part, making it easier to train the transverse arch of the sole and the arch of the foot without bending the toes. The natural arch of the transverse arch of the sole and the arch of the foot can guide the contraction of the core muscles of the sole of the foot, thereby strengthening the strength of the core muscles of the sole of the foot. Especially in the process of arching the arch of the foot, the deformation of the support part can provide a good buffer for the transverse arch, making the transverse arch feel more comfortable.

2. The portable core muscle group trainer can be worn on the feet together with socks and fits on the soles of the feet. The support part provides dynamic support, allowing users to train the core muscle group of the feet anytime and anywhere, greatly improving the training effect.

3. The portable plantar core muscle trainer can be placed on the ground, any flat surface or glued to the sole of the shoe, and then stepped on with both feet to practice the arch of the transverse arch and the arch of the foot, and train the plantar core muscle group.

4. When the metatarsophalangeal joint of the first toe and the metatarsophalangeal joint of the fifth toe of the sole of the foot respectively touch the medial cushion portion and the lateral cushion portion, the upper surface of the medial cushion portion and the upper surface of the lateral cushion portion are concave, which can fit the position of the metatarsophalangeal joint of the first toe and the metatarsophalangeal joint of the fifth toe of the sole of the foot, making it more comfortable to wear.

Combining the above technical features, the main effects of the portable plantar core muscle training device of the present invention can be clearly presented in the following embodiments.

Please refer to the first and second figures. The portable plantar core muscle group trainer of the present invention is used in conjunction with a sole A of a human body. The horizontal lateral direction of the sole A is defined as an X direction, the vertical longitudinal direction of the sole A is defined as a Y direction, and a Z direction is perpendicular to both the X direction and the Y direction. The sole A includes a first toe metatarsophalangeal joint A1, a fifth toe metatarsophalangeal joint A5, and a heel A3. A transverse arch A2 is between the first toe metatarsophalangeal joint A1 and the fifth toe metatarsophalangeal joint A5, and a foot arch A4 is between the first toe metatarsophalangeal joint A1 and the heel A3. The portable plantar core muscle group trainer includes a support portion 1, an inner side buffer portion 2, and an outer side buffer portion 3.

In the first embodiment, please refer to the second, third, fourth and fifth figures, the support portion 1 is configured to correspond to the position of the crossbow A2, the support portion 1 extends along the Y direction, and the maximum distance of the support portion 1 in the Y direction is defined as a long axis 11; the support portion 1 also extends along the X direction, and the maximum distance of the support portion 1 in the X direction is defined as a short axis 12, and the support portion 1 also has a support portion geometric center; the support portion 1 includes a support portion upper surface 13, the support portion upper surface 13 is for contacting the crossbow A2, and corresponds to the crossbow A2 and is a The supporting portion 1 has a supporting portion thickness 14 in the Z direction, and the supporting portion 1 has a deformation amount on the Z axis, and the deformation amount is one-third to one-half of the supporting portion thickness 14; in order to match the sole size of adults, children, men and women, specifically, the length of the long axis 11 is between 25 mm and 60 mm, the length of the short axis 12 is between 15 mm and 40 mm, and the length of the long axis 11 is greater than the length of the short axis 12, and the supporting portion thickness 14 located at the geometric center of the supporting portion is between 12 mm and 20 mm. The long axis 11 and the Y direction are sandwiched by a first angle θ1, and the first angle θ1 is between negative fifteen degrees and positive fifteen degrees. θ1 in this embodiment is zero degrees.

A medial cushion portion 2 is connected to the support portion 1. The medial cushion portion 2 is disposed corresponding to the first toe metatarsophalangeal joint A1. The medial cushion portion 2 has a medial cushion portion geometric center and a medial cushion portion upper surface 21 corresponding to the first toe metatarsophalangeal joint A1. The medial cushion portion upper surface 21 is concave. The medial cushion portion 2 has a medial cushion portion thickness 2 in the Z direction. 2; Specifically, the shape of the projection of the medial buffer portion 2 on an XY plane formed by the X direction and the Y direction is a circle. To adapt to different sole sizes, the diameter of the circle is between 15 mm and 40 mm, and the medial buffer portion 2 is provided with a plurality of rings 23 of different diameters, which are arranged at intervals along the radial direction of the circle. The thickness 22 of the medial buffer portion is between 5 mm and 10 mm.

A lateral cushion portion 3 is connected to the support portion 1. The lateral cushion portion 3 is configured to correspond to the metatarsophalangeal joint of the fifth toe. The lateral cushion portion 3 has a lateral cushion portion geometric center and a lateral cushion portion upper surface 31 corresponding to the metatarsophalangeal joint of the fifth toe. The lateral cushion portion upper surface 31 is concave. The lateral cushion portion 3 has a lateral cushion portion thickness 32 in the Z direction. The support portion The thickness 14 is greater than the thickness 22 of the inner cushion portion and the thickness 32 of the outer cushion portion. Specifically, the shape of the outer cushion portion 3 projected on the XY plane formed by the X direction and the Y direction is a circle. To adapt to different sole sizes, the diameter of the circle is between 15 mm and 40 mm, and the outer cushion portion 3 is provided with a plurality of rings 33 of different diameters, which are arranged at intervals along the radial direction of the circle. The thickness 32 of the outer cushion portion is between 5 mm and 10 mm.

The geometric center of the outer buffer portion is connected to the geometric center of the inner buffer portion to form a geometric center line 4, and the geometric center line 4 is at a second angle θ2 with the X direction. To adapt to different sole sizes, the second angle θ2 is between 15 degrees and 35 degrees, and θ2 in this embodiment is 20 degrees; a width W formed by the inner buffer portion 2 and the outer buffer portion 3 along the X direction is between 40 mm and 120 mm; a length L formed by the inner buffer portion 2 and the outer buffer portion 3 along the Y direction is between 30 mm and 80 mm.

Please refer to the second, sixth and seventh figures. When using, the present invention can be worn on the feet together with socks, or set on any plane such as the ground, on the insole, etc., which are all feasible implementation methods. By setting it on the insole or wearing it on the feet together with socks, the user can self-train to arch the arch of the foot at any time when riding in a car or sitting in a seat, so as to strengthen the core muscles of the sole of the foot, without having to deliberately train at a fixed point at home.

When the sole A steps on the portable plantar core muscle trainer of the present invention, the transverse arch A2 is against the support portion 1, and the first toe metatarsophalangeal joint A1 is used to apply downward force to press the inner cushioning portion 2, and the fifth toe metatarsophalangeal joint A5 is used to apply downward force to press the outer cushioning portion 3. Because the upper surface of the support portion 1 is a convex arc surface, the user's first toe metatarsophalangeal joint A1 and the fifth toe metatarsophalangeal joint A5 are easily guided to be adducted in the horizontal direction, as shown by the two horizontal arrows in the sixth figure, so that the user's transverse arch A2 can be arched and raised, as shown by the upward arrow in the sixth figure, thereby guiding the contraction of the plantar core muscle group. In addition, please refer to the sixth and seventh figures. The user also uses the first toe metatarsophalangeal joint A1 to apply downward force to press the medial cushioning portion 2, and the fifth toe metatarsophalangeal joint A5 to apply downward force to press the lateral cushioning portion 3. As shown in the seventh figure, with the assistance of the convex arc surface of the support portion 1, the user can easily and naturally arch the arch A4, and also guide the core muscles of the plantar to contract. With the support of the support portion 1 at the transverse arch A2 of the plantar, the user can more easily arch the transverse arch A2 and the arch A4 during training without bending the toes, guiding the core muscles of the plantar A to contract, thereby training the muscle strength of the core muscles of the plantar. Specifically, when the sole A is being trained, downward force is applied by the two ends of the sole A corresponding to the first toe metatarsophalangeal joint A1 and the fifth toe metatarsophalangeal joint A5, and the transverse arch A2 located between the first toe metatarsophalangeal joint A1 and the fifth toe metatarsophalangeal joint A5 is pressed against the supporting portion 1, thereby assisting the arch A4 to naturally arch instead of bending the toes. At the same time, the arch A4 can also be trained to naturally arch, thereby guiding the core muscles of the plantar to contract, thereby achieving the training of the core muscles of the plantar. When the sole A applies force in the above manner, the toes of the sole A will not bend and the external muscles controlling the toes will not be induced to move. Thus, the core muscles of the sole can be trained through active and correct force application. In particular, the present invention can be set on the insole or worn on the foot together with socks. As the user moves, the support part 1 can provide dynamic support to the sole, greatly increasing the training effect.

In the second embodiment, please refer to Figures 8, 9 and 10, the present invention includes a support portion 1A, an inner buffer portion 2A, an outer buffer portion 3A and an elastic sheet 4A.

The elastic sheet 4A has an elastic sheet body 41A, and an inner wing 42A and an outer wing 43 extend from both sides of the elastic sheet body 41A respectively. The support portion 1A covers the elastic sheet body 41A, the inner buffer portion 2A covers the inner wing 42A, and the outer buffer portion 3A covers the outer wing 43. The elastic sheet 4A has elasticity in the Z direction, and the support portion 1A generates a deformation due to the elasticity.

Please refer to the third and fourth figures. In addition, the length of the long axis 11 of the support portion 1, the length of the short axis 12, the thickness 14 of the support portion, or the inner buffer thickness 22, shape or size of the inner buffer portion 2, or the outer buffer thickness 32, shape or size of the outer buffer portion 3, or the dimensions of the first angle θ1 and the second angle θ2, etc., can be customized according to the user's foot shape when necessary, so that adults and children of different genders can use the present invention comfortably and correctly.

Combined with the description of the above embodiments, the operation, use and effects of the present invention can be fully understood. However, the above embodiments are only preferred embodiments of the present invention and should not be used to limit the scope of the implementation of the present invention. In other words, simple equivalent changes and modifications made according to the scope of the patent application of the present invention and the content of the invention description are all within the scope of the present invention.

1: Support part 11: Long axis 12: Short axis 13: Upper surface of support part 14: Thickness of support part 1A: Support part 2: Inner cushion part 21: Upper surface of inner cushion part 22: Thickness of inner cushion part 23: Ring 2A: Inner cushion part 3: Outer cushion part 31: Upper surface of outer cushion part 32: Thickness of outer cushion part 33: Ring 3A: Outer cushion part 4: Geometric center line 4A: Elastic sheet 41A: Elastic sheet body 42A: medial wing 43A: lateral wing W: width L: length θ1: first angle θ2: second angle A: sole A1: first toe metatarsophalangeal joint A2: transverse arch A3: heel A4: arch A5: fifth toe metatarsophalangeal joint

[Figure 1] is a three-dimensional appearance diagram of the first embodiment of the present invention.

[Figure 2] is a schematic diagram of the position of the first embodiment of the present invention corresponding to the sole of the foot stepping on the ground.

[Figure 3] is a top view of the first embodiment of the present invention.

[Figure 4] is a front view of the first embodiment of the present invention.

[Figure 5] is a cross-sectional view of the first embodiment of the present invention.

[Figure 6] is a schematic diagram of the force applied when the sole of the foot steps on the first embodiment of the present invention.

[Figure 7] is a schematic diagram of the force application state when the sole of the foot steps on the first embodiment of the present invention.

[Figure 8] is a three-dimensional appearance diagram of the second embodiment of the present invention.

[Figure 9] is a top view of the second embodiment of the present invention.

[Figure 10] is a cross-sectional view of the second embodiment of the present invention.

1: Support part

13: Upper surface of the support part

2: Inner buffer area

21: Upper surface of inner buffer part

3: External buffer

31: Upper surface of outer buffer part

Claims (12)

A portable plantar core muscle group trainer is used with a human foot. The horizontal direction of the sole is defined as an X direction, the longitudinal direction of the sole is defined as a Y direction, and a Z direction is perpendicular to the X direction and the Y direction. The sole includes a first toe metatarsophalangeal joint, a fifth toe metatarsophalangeal joint and a heel. There is a transverse arch between the first toe metatarsophalangeal joint and the fifth toe metatarsophalangeal joint, and there is a foot arch between the first toe metatarsophalangeal joint and the heel. The portable plantar core muscle group trainer includes: A support portion, which is configured correspondingly at the transverse arch position, the support portion has a support portion thickness in the Z direction, and the support portion has a deformation amount on the Z axis; A medial cushion portion connected to the support portion, the medial cushion portion is configured to correspond to the metatarsophalangeal joint of the first toe, and the medial cushion portion has a medial cushion portion thickness in the Z direction; A lateral cushion portion connected to the support portion, the lateral cushion portion is configured to correspond to the metatarsophalangeal joint of the fifth toe, and the lateral cushion portion has a lateral cushion portion thickness in the Z direction; the thickness of the support portion is greater than the thickness of the medial cushion portion and the thickness of the lateral cushion portion; When the sole of the foot steps on the portable plantar core muscle group trainer, the support part supports the transverse arch to assist in training the natural arch of the foot, thereby guiding the plantar core muscle group to contract and strengthen the plantar core muscle group. A portable plantar core muscle trainer as described in claim 1, wherein the deformation amount is one third to one half of the thickness of the support portion. As described in claim 1, the portable plantar core muscle trainer, wherein the support portion includes an upper surface of the support portion, the upper surface of the support portion is provided for contacting the transverse arch, and the upper surface of the support portion is a curved surface corresponding to the transverse arch. A portable plantar core muscle trainer as described in claim 1, wherein the maximum distance of the support portion along the Y direction is defined as a long axis, and the maximum distance of the support portion along the X direction is defined as a short axis, and the length of the long axis is greater than the length of the short axis. A portable plantar core muscle trainer as described in claim 4, wherein the long axis is at a first angle with the Y direction, and the first angle is between -15 degrees and +15 degrees; the medial buffer portion has a medial buffer portion geometric center, the lateral buffer portion has a lateral buffer portion geometric center, the lateral buffer portion geometric center is connected to the medial buffer portion geometric center to form a geometric center line, and the geometric center line is at a second angle with the X direction, and the second angle is between 15 degrees and 35 degrees. As described in claim 1, the portable plantar core muscle trainer, wherein the medial cushion portion has an medial cushion portion upper surface, and the medial cushion portion upper surface is concave. As described in claim 6, the portable plantar core muscle trainer, wherein the inner buffer portion is circular and has a plurality of rings with different diameters, and the plurality of rings are arranged at intervals along a radial direction. As described in claim 1, the portable plantar core muscle trainer, wherein the lateral cushioning portion has an lateral cushioning portion upper surface, and the lateral cushioning portion upper surface is concave. As described in claim 8, the portable plantar core muscle trainer, wherein the outer buffer portion is circular and has a plurality of rings with different diameters, and the plurality of rings are arranged at intervals along a radial direction. A portable plantar core muscle trainer as described in claim 4, wherein the length of the long axis is between 25 mm and 60 mm, the length of the short axis is between 15 mm and 40 mm, the thickness of the medial buffer portion is between 5 mm and 10 mm, the thickness of the lateral buffer portion is between 5 mm and 10 mm, the thickness of the support portion is between 12 mm and 20 mm, the width of the medial buffer portion and the lateral buffer portion along the X direction is between 40 mm and 120 mm; the length of the medial buffer portion and the lateral buffer portion along the Y direction is between 30 mm and 80 mm. The portable plantar core muscle trainer as described in claim 1 further comprises an elastic sheet, the elastic sheet has an elastic sheet body, the support portion covers the elastic sheet body, the elastic sheet has elasticity in the Z direction, and the support portion generates the deformation by the elasticity. As described in claim 11, a portable plantar core muscle trainer, wherein an inner wing and an outer wing are respectively extended from both sides of the elastic sheet body, the inner buffer portion covers the inner wing, and the outer buffer portion covers the outer wing.

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